#StonerCleanupInitiative: What is it and Why does it Matter?

Stoners don’t have the best reputation. No matter how much you might love The Big Lebowski and Fast Times at Ridgemont High, it’s hard to deny that the typical “stoner” stereotype doesn’t help legalization and normalization efforts.

The stoner cleanup initiative, which is loosely organized around the #StonerCleanUpInitiative hashtag, is trying to change that.

What is #StonerCleanupInitiative?

#StonerCleanUpInitiative is a movement by cannabis users to clean up the garbage they find at their public smoke spots.

The idea started on Reddit’s r/trees, a community for cannabis users. In July 2018, user RedArms219 posted a simple picture of a paper bag full of trash in a park. They titled it “Cleaned up the smoke spot #StonerCleanUpInitiative.”

Within about 24 hours, the post had 22,000 upvotes. Based on anecdotal data, that could mean anywhere from 80 to 500,000 total views.

Why Does #StonerCleanupInitiative Matter?

Since stoners generally have a bad reputation for leaving trash and damage at their smoke spots, the community saw this as the perfect way to combat the stigma.

Picking up not only their own garbage, but also garbage left by other smokers, did more than just send a message, though. It also makes the world better in a very small, but meaningful way. User SkinnyJeansBeans commented, “I sure hopes this catches on let the wholesome age commence [sic].”

People from outside the community have begun to take note, too. A post by ItsFrank11, titled “Non smoker here, just wanted to say the #StonerCleanupInitiative is amazing!” celebrated the movement as “an overall great thing” and “an amazing opportunity to turn the stigma and help push legalization.”

The stoner cleanup initiative could have just been a great excuse to clean up a little trash, but in our world it means a lot more than that. If you believe that negative stereotypes and stigmas about cannabis users stand in the way of broad legalization, then movements like the stoner cleanup initiative are the cure.